Council approves site prurchase for new rec center

Despite funding questions that remain unanswered, Goldsboro City Council members continued to take steps toward reconstruction of the Wayne County Memorial Community Building at their meeting Monday.

Last month, the city entered into Option Agreements to purchase property on the 200 block of Center Street -- the future site of the estimated $10 million facility, they said.

Monday, the group approved the purchase of those two parcels of land for a total cost of $450,000.

The first parcel, owned by Claude and Evelyn Paul, is optioned for $187,500. The second, owned by Patrick McArthur and Paul, will sell for more than $260,000.

City Manager Joe Huffman said he expects the purchase to be finalized later this week.

Council members agreed that the money needed for the purchases will not come out of the city's general fund. Rather, it will be drawn from Community Development Block Grant funds instead.

The council also approved a bid submitted by A/K Demolition and Grading of LaGrange for demolition and removal of all buildings, sheds, pavement, light poles and fixtures, fencing and other material on the sites.

The $86,000 price tag also will be paid for with CDBG funds, officials said, but their approval and is contingent upon successful purchase of the property.

While no formal plan for the facility has been approved by the council, Recreation Center Committee members have sent their designers back to the drawing board to work out the final details of the project.

Early plans called for a building reflective of a standard YMCA -- equipped with pools, exercise rooms, an indoor track and shower and locker space.

The last time the project was discussed among council members, the estimated cost for construction of the facility was more than $10 million.

The original facility, located at 239 E. Walnut St. and opened in 1925 was dedicated to Wayne County veterans who fought and died in World War I.

The building, a downtown Goldsboro landmark that had served generations, was destroyed May 3 by fire.

City officials have talked about the need to reconstruct the facility since the day it burned.